VZCZCXRO0638
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #4467 3430907
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080907Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1272
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS BEIJING 004467
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C
HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR CH
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: TIBET, FINANCIAL CRISIS
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Editorial Quotes
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1. TIBET
a. "Sarkozy provokes France-China storm"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/08): "The World's media is feeling the
storm in the China-France diplomatic feud. Public opinion suggests
that China will take actions in order to sanction France. A
complicated wrestling between China and France concerning wills,
strength and diplomatic measures will happen. The World will have a
more careful evaluation on China during this process. Chinese
experts indicated that it is undoubted that both France and China
will be harmed if China takes sanctions against France. But the
Tibet issue concerns China's sovereignty. China can't make a
compromise on the issue, even if it has to endure economic loss. In
the recent years, the U.S. and Japan seem to have been aware of
where China's red line is, but Europe, it seems doesn't."
b. "An unacceptable affront"
The official English-language newspaper China Daily (12/08): "
Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama hit Chinese nerves
hard. But, the French president probably was betting on the
assumption that China and France will have to do business anyway.
...He broke this country's clearly defined bottom-line for
maintaining friendly state-to-state relations. For whatever the
consequences of his stunt will be, the arrogant French president has
only himself to blame.
He asked for it. ...Government preference may determine the purchase
of Airbuses, or Boeings. But it cannot force people to travel to
places they dislike, be it Paris, or Provence. Nor can it make
consumers buy from brand names they feel bad about, be it Louis
Vuitton, or Carrefour.
...he ignored the Chinese side's special sensitivities on matters of
sovereignty. He made reconciliatory gestures after the unpleasant
pre-Olympic episodes, and was forgiven by the Chinese. But there is
a limit to everything. What happened Saturday calls into question
all his previous efforts to repair ties, and his personal
credibility as well."
2. U.S. DIPLOMACY
"Former American official suggests Obama to go to China on the first
oversea visit"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/08): "An article in Newsweek suggests that
Obama should visit China on his first presidential trip. Some
American experts indicate that holding a U.S.-China summit is an
urgent task for Obama. Chinese experts think that the idea of Obama
visiting China first is unlikely. This suggestion reveals the
willingness of certain people in the U.S. to improve U.S.-China
relations. But it is still not the mainstream idea and has aroused
great disputes in the U.S. However, in the U.S. scholars circle,
holding the U.S.-China talks has gained many supports. Chinese
experts believe that Obama's first presidential visit will be Europe
to improve the U.S. image. Relations with China are not the most
urgent issue on the U.S. diplomatic agenda. Even if the U.S.
President chooses Eastern Asia as his first visit, normally Japan
will be the first stop. What's more, Japan has already started to
worry about the heated-up relations with China exceeding the
relations with Japan. Last week the Strategic Economic Dialogue just
ended. European media has witnessed the changes of U.S.-China
strength status."
PICCUTA